What is Milli Lengthening?

Molar lengthening is a surgical periodontal treatment that involves changing the position of the gingival margin around the molar (visible part of the tooth), with the aim of increasing its clinical size. The operation is performed for functional or aesthetic reasons.

The molar lengthening procedure involves the surgical removal of a portion of the gum and/or bone surrounding a tooth, to allow a prosthetic restoration to be placed on the tooth or to cosmetically improve the appearance of the smile. It is usually performed by a specialist periodontist.

When is molar lengthening needed?

The most common cases where molar lengthening is required are: a) the aesthetic correction of the ‘gum smile’ and b) the placement of prosthetic restorations (blocking or crown) that extend below the gum line .

Aesthetic Molar Lengthening

The aesthetic molar lengthening operation aims to remove the excess gum tissue that causes the condition known as ‘gum smile’. The condition is usually created when, for any reason, a hyperplasia of the gums is caused, causing them to extend beyond the normal gum line, covering part of the tooth. As a result, the tooth appears to be smaller and shorter, when in fact its size is completely normal. The same visual effect is naturally created when the tooth is actually smaller. In this case, moving the gum line towards the root and exposing a larger part of the tooth creates the visual image that the molar has a normal size. Other causes of a gummy smile are a small upper lip or a large upper jaw.

In both cases the goal is to artificially adjust the visible part of the tooth to the normal size. It is essentially a cosmetic dentistry operation to improve the person’s appearance.

Functional Elongation of Mill

In several cases molar lengthening becomes necessary when there is not enough healthy part of the tooth above the gums to be able to support a prosthetic restoration (crown or bridge) due to tooth decay or fracture.</p class=”tt”> p>

It is also needed when there is decay or a break below the gum line so that the tooth can be occluded (sealed).

The Millus Lengthening Surgery

The operation is usually completed in one visit with local anesthesia. Of course, if more teeth are involved, one visit per quadrant of the mouth may be needed. Before surgery, it is good to have the teeth cleaned by the dentist to remove plaque and tartar.

First an incision is made in the gums around the tooth and the excess gum tissue is removed. The gums on the adjacent teeth may also need to be adjusted slightly to keep the gum line smooth.

If a large adjustment of the height of the tooth is required, but especially when it is done for functional reasons, it may be necessary to remove a small amount of bone around the tooth. Especially for prosthetic restorations, there must be a distance of at least 2 millimeters of natural dental tissue between the bone and the edge of the crown so that the gums can naturally attach.

The gums are then placed in place and if necessary sutures are made to secure them tightly around the tooth. A special paste is placed over the operated area to protect it.

Healing - Recovery

Sutures (if needed) are removed in 7-10 days. Then a visit is scheduled in about a month to check the progress of healing. The healing period varies depending on the extent of the operation and may take a few months for the gums to take their final position.

If the treatment includes the placement of a prosthetic restoration, a temporary crown can be placed immediately or a few days later, but the final crown should not be placed until the gums have completely healed. The gums shrink slightly during the healing period, so if the final crown is placed immediately, the gums will recede a little and reveal the edges of the crown, creating an unsightly effect.